Multiple plate photo electric tube



Aug. 1932- B. w. WOODWARD 1,870,596

MULTIPLE PLATE PHOTO ELECTRIC TUBE Filed March 31, 1930 Inventor B WJMZZ/f Attorney Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN W. WOODWARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER HOWEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOLTIPLE PLATE PHOTO ELECTRIC T'UBE Application filed March 31,

My invention relates to improvements in multiple plate photo electric tubes and it more especially relates to the features pointed out in the annexed claims. The purpose of my invention is to provide a light sensitive tube having a plurality of separate light sensitive surfaces each adapted to vary the current of electricity in accordance with differences in illumination to which each surface is subjected; that provides suitable supports for the separate plates and positions the plates with respect to each other so as to cause their adjacent edges to project past each other; that encloses the elements in a vacuum tube provided with a conventional base and fixed projecting terminals; and that is also provided with an anode which cooperates with the cathodesurfaces.

With these and other ends in view, I illustrate in the accompanying drawing such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad underlying features without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a tube.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevation of the usual five prong terminal.

Fig. 4 is a modified side view of Fig. 2.

In practicing my invention I may use whatever alternatives or equivalents in structure that varying conditions may demand without departing from the broad spirit of the invention.

On the insulating base 1, an evacuated glass tube 2 issecured and within it the anode element 3 is supported and a group of cathode surfaces 4 are positioned, one above the other, in off-set relation, as shown in Fig. 2; or in staggered relation so positioned in respect of each other that the adjacent edges of the platesoverlap but do not touch each other. They are supported in any desired manner by the conducting leads 5. These leads are insulated from each other and are connected with their respective pins 6.

This form of vacuum tube light sensitive tube is specially adaptable for multiple scan- 50 ning and when so used the separate plates 1930. Serial No. 440,333.

4 are successively brought into circuit by any desired form of commutator and slip rings (not shown). The provision of a group of separate light sensitive surfaces insulated from each other affords a ready .means for selective scanning, each scanning path corresponding to one of the plates, thus four system, the output of which may be used for various purposes. The special adaptations of the tube are not specifically shown in this application as their description is not necessary to an understanding of the structure of my multiple plate photo electric tube.

What I claim is: 1. A light sensitive tube comprising an evacuated tube, an insulated supporting base therefor, a plurality of cathode plates separately supported and spaced apart from each other with their adjacent edges overlapping, an anode element in operative relation to the plates, and suitable attaching prongs secured to the insulated base one for each separate plate and one for the anode element.

2. A light sensitive tube comprising an evacuated tube attached to an insulated base, I

a plurality of light sensitive plates positioned adjacent each other with their meeting edges in overlapping and spaced apart relation, separate conducting supports for each plate, an anode element in spaced apart relation and extending across all of the plates, and corresponding terminals projecting from the insulating base.

3. An evacuated tube comprising an anode element, a plurality of adj acently positioned overlapping cathode light sensitive plates positioned in operative relation to the anode element, and suitable insulated supports for each.

4. A light sensitive device comprising a plurality of light sensitive cathodes positioned adjacent with overlapping edges and in insulated relation to each other, an anode suitably supported in relation common to all the cat odes, and separate external electrical connections for each of said cathodes and the anode.

5. A light sensitive device comprising a plurality of light sensitive unitary cathodes having overlapping edges each cathode being positioned adjacent to and in cooperation with a single anode that is common to all of 10 the cathodes, means for supporting the cathodes and anodes in spaced apart relation so that light from a single source may reach all of the cathodes, and means for connectin each element separately to related externa circuits.-

6. A light sensitive device comprising a plurality of separate cathodes in spaced apart and insulated relation to each other having their adjacent edges overlapping, a common anode in cooperation with each cathode, a

tube for the anode and cathode elements, a separate electrical connection for each cathode leading from the tube and insulated from the others, and a separate electrical connection for the anode also being broughtout from the tube and insulated from the cathode connections.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature.

BENJ AMIN W. WOODWARD. 

